Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 12:11:40 -0400
Reply-To: Dan Johnston <johnstond@MAILSERVER.VOLVO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Dan Johnston <johnstond@MAILSERVER.VOLVO.COM>
Organization: Volvo Cars of North America
Subject: Re: HELP: Mixed Feelings about 84 Diesel Vanagon Find
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
go buy a six pack of beer and a Playboy magazine. You'll get more fun and enjoyment than what you're might end up doing.
Craig Jon Anderson wrote:
> I found an 84 diesel Vanagon nearby. That is the good news. The bad news is that it was not in very good condition. I was disappointed because the ad and the owner lead me to believe that it was in better shape than it really was. In particular, I am suspicious that the transmission/clutch may have some hidden damage even though the guy said that it was "fairly new". The reason that I am suspicious is that he said the same thing about the paint job and there was a fair amount of rust.
>
> Here is what I saw. PLEASE.. offer comments, tips, suggestions on how I can figure out more about the condition of this baby and whether I should spend any more effort. I am not a mechanic, so bear with some of the descriptions
>
> 1. Dogs used the interiour for a toilet. It stunk to high heaven. It appears that originally it was a 7 passenger or weekender, however all bench seat had been removed and what appeared to be some wood had been laid down on top of the original floor and then a bench bolted to that sideways behind the driver seat. There was carpeting laid down over the wood.
>
> 2. Four of the heat vents had tape over them.
>
> 3. It hasn't been started or run in over a year. They guy says that the engine was experiencing some "blow by" because of a bad piston or ring. He didn't know. There was still plenty of oil in the crankcase.
>
> 4. The air filter appeared relatively clean.
>
> 5. There was NO water/antifreeze in the resevoir. It was dry. It could have leaked/blown out or maybe he drained it to prevent freezing. Regardless, this bothers me. HOW DO I TELL IF THERE IS A CRACKED BLOCK?
>
> 6. Some sort of "cap" appeared to be missing where I believe the engine connects to the transmission. If you look into the engine compartment from the hatch, it is towards the back. The hole was about as big around a half dollar and I could stick my finger in the hole.
>
> 7. Since the guy wasn't there and his "soon to be ex-wife" didn't have the keys, I couldn't start it. I could shift into all the gears with the clutch pushed in.
>
> 8. The the engine side of the engine compartment cover seemed REALLY sootie/oily.
>
> 9. I was able to release the emergency brake and roll the thing about a foot on the flat with just my own shoulder power.
>
> 10. The plastic around steering column was gone.
>
> 11. There is substantial surface rust around the edges and doors with one or two through and through spots.
>
> COMMENTS?
>
> Craig
> ###
>
> Craig Jon Anderson
> Strategic Accounts Business Development
> Marathon Technologies Corp.
> Nonstop Windows NT
> 978-266-9999 x145
> 978-266-0023 fax
> craig@marathontechnologies.com
>
> http://www.marathontechnologies.com
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